Colantuono: Atalanta still motivated

Stefano Colantuono has defended his Atalanta players for their performance on Saturday against criticism that they have lost their edge.

Stefano Colantuono has defended his Atalanta players for their performance on Saturday against criticism that they have lost their edge.

The Orobici are seemingly assured of League survival this season after reaching the 40-point mark with several rounds of fixtures still to go.

Despite seeing his team subsequently fall to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Catania in Week 34, Colantuono does not believe that his players consider they now have nothing to play for.

Warning that the gap to Lecce in 18th is only five points, the Coach declared that he and his team is targeting three points at home to Chievo on Tuesday night.

“At Catania we lost the game particularly for our mistakes made, but I do not see a team that is unmotivated,” reflected the tactician to the Press on Monday.

“Now we need to regain our mental energy to be ready for tomorrow night. Importantly, we can move three points closer to our goal by playing.

“Even so, the situation is not tragic - the gap to the relegation zone is still good. However, it is a lead we cannot afford to give up - we have been troubled with lapses in concentration at this time.”

Colantuono offered his thoughts on yesterday’s scenes in Genoa, where ultras forced the temporary abandonment of the Grifone’s home match with Siena.